Princess

This is an unusual gem of a film. It is, effectively, a Dutch anime. The animation style is a little simple compared to its Japanese contemporaries but I personally found the starkness of the backgrounds and simple lines of the characters to be in keeping with the general feel of the film. I felt it used color in a very effective manner, allowing the bland, washed out backgrounds to mirror the desolation of the protagonist’s frame of mind.  Fans of traditional anime may be put off by the live action flash backs scattered throughout the film. I happened to find them quite effective, as they served to make the titular female lead feel like the only “real” character in the film, bringing life and vibrancy to a character who is dead before the opening credits role.

The blending of life action and animation is seamless and never feels forced or gimmicky, which is a real accomplishment in itself. The film is subtitled, making it difficult to judge the quality of the acting, but on every other score this movie succeeds. The story itself is one of vengeance and of a good man’s fall into righteous damnation. The main character is a priest who has become the guardian of his now-orphaned niece, the daughter of his sister who was an enormously popular adult film star. This gripping story keeps you on the edge of your seat with a fast moving plot and likable characters. It has the depth of emotion and feeling that is rarely seen in anything that comes out of America these days, but the average moviegoer may find the style too surreal and strange for their tastes.

A few warnings are in order here as well. This is an EXCELLENT film, but it is no-holds-barred. It is extremely explicit, containing a fair amount of nudity and sex. If it were rated, it would easily warrant an NC-17. However, the sex and blood never feel gratuitous or meaningless, as so often is the case in mainstream American films. The nudity and violence are here to add to the harshness and grit of the story and they always feel well-placed.  The film deals with themes of female exploitation, prostitution, adult film-making and child-abuse, so it isn’t for the faint of heart or those easily upset by such subjects. Its treatment of these controversial matters is blunt, harsh, and incredibly real.  You will squirm in your seat and feel uncomfortable throughout the movie. As a matter of fact, the last time I felt this uncomfortable during a movie was when watching the film “The Girl Next Door” which also deals with child abuse.

Unfortunately, some people allow this discomfort to prevent them from completing the film, or are inspired to write negative reviews about the film due to it.  It is not a bad thing that a film about this issue makes you feel uncomfortable… It should. It film that can discuss these things without making you discomforted is, quite simple, not tackling the issue straight on. This is not, by any means, a feel-good film. It is a Tragedy in the purest sense of the word, and one of the darkest pieces I’ve seen in a long time, so if you’re looking for a fairy tale, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for something compelling, full of grit and ingenuity, this film may be for you. I give it 4.5 stars.